Y-12 Federal Credit Union awards $30,000 in scholarships to East Tennessee seniors

May 24, 2023

Recently, Y-12 Federal Credit Union honored six seniors by presenting each of them with a $5000 scholarship at an awards dinner held at Zoo Knoxville.

With an “Into the Wild” theme, recipients dined and celebrated their accomplishments surrounded by elephants, giraffes, and zebras.

Hallerin Hilton Hill addressed the students, highlighting the power and importance of being “you.”

To kick off the event, recipients also got to step behind the scenes and feed Zoo Knoxville’s red pandas.

Credit Union CEO Mark Ziegler was in attendance and said he feels confident about the future.

“It was an incredible night to share the accomplishments of six extraordinary seniors,” he said. “From exemplary grades and volunteerism to manners and wonderful personalities, I believe when it’s their time to lead, they will serve as the change agents needed to move us into a promising future.”

Y-12’s Bill T. Hicks Scholarship application process challenges students to get creative with the submission process and requires an essay presentation that goes through a scholarship committee panel review.

In addition, students must meet several academic thresholds for consideration. This year’s recipients averaged a combined grade-point average of approximately 4.2.

Recipients are:

• Ila Coker, Anderson County High School.

• Adler Keehn, Oak Ridge High School

• Arden McDonell, Maryville High School.

• Davyn Mengeling, Hardin Valley Academy.

• Summer Morris, Anderson County High School

• Caroline Spurling, Anderson County High School.

Each student will continue their education in the fall. Their institutions include the University of Tennessee-Knoxville, Tennessee Technological University, Middle Tennessee State University, and James Madison University.

Named for a former board chairman and educator, the Bill T. Hicks Scholarship was introduced in 2010. Hicks passed away on April 4, at age 84, just before this year’s awards dinner.

His passion and verve for education have enabled many East Tennessee students to receive financial support through Y-12 FCU to further their educations. The credit union has given more than $124,000 to more than 97 recipients.

The 2024 scholarship application process will open in November 2023. For more information on how to apply and the respective qualifications, visit the Bill T. Hicks Scholarship page.